LEXINGTON, Va. -- Emory opened play in the 2014 NCAA championships by posting a second-round win against North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles boosted their overall record to 18-6 following a 5-0 triumph against the Bishops, who closed out their season at 13-9.
Emory bolted to a 3-0 lead after sweeping doubles. Junior Eric Halpern and senior Simon Lavoie-Perusse got things rolling with an 8-1 triumph at No. 3 while the junior duo of Alex Ruderman and Ian Wagner upped their spring record to 10-7 with an 8-3 verdict against Peter Hviid and Mikhail Konnov at the No. 1 spot. Seniors Ayush Bajoria and Jackson Isaacs finished off the sweep with an 8-6 outcome at No. 2 against Eduardo Ugalde and Elias Kerem.
Wagner upped the Eagles' margin to 4-0 after a convincing 6-0, 6-0, win at No. 4 singles, his 23rd victory in 28 decisions, while Ruderman closed out the match with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph versus Konnov at No. 1, raising his won-lost ledger to 21-3.
